[right][sub][color=dimgray]Friday. June 1st. 
Nearing the kids' lunchtime at the Dawson estate.[/color][/sub][/right]
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[indent]A rare sight in the morning: Ms. Dawson still in her nightgown [i]and[/i] at home. In thirty minutes, the nanny would ring a bell calling her children to the patio for lunch. They were in the backyard playing cops and robbers with each other, where Phoebe was undoubtedly the bad guy, while Charles tried to protect the prized item, which was a stuffed animal that Maya had forgotten here, two weeks ago. The matriarch of the household would have to visit the Reese kids and return it, but for now, Charles was missing his buddy cop. They were a team in catching the unstoppable villain, his sister, so... he didn't necessarily want to give the plushie back to anyone. Not even to his mother.

Has she explained to her children that they may never see their friend again? Absolutely not. In their little minds, at least she hoped they believed her, Mr. Reese and Maya went on vacation. A white lie. Yes. But, she wasn't ready to break their hearts. It's only been a week since they've gone missing, but having been exposed to the worst crimes because of her field, Annabel looked at the incident with skepticism.  Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, Roderick and Maya weren't dead. Maybe, just maybe, they would return today out of the blue. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be something added to the paper. Another note-worthy, unfortunate story, about the loss of good people, in this small, cursed town.  

Sitting in her [url=https://img00.deviantart.net/edf1/i/2014/179/7/c/eh_sitting_room_by_owen_c-d7obogv.jpg]lounge area[/url] within her office, a porcelain cup filled to the brim with hot, hibiscus tea in hand, Ana took another deep sip, as she glanced down looking at an open manila folder with documents from her most recent closed case. Reviewing one of many tough cases she's fought. She, always up for a challenge, defended a minor who fatally shot his police officer father. He couldn't stand the abuse and continuously told her 'he's better off dead'. So, she had to prove to the court this boy wasn't a sociopath. After some strategy and some help from her colleague in California, at first the case not looking promising at all for her and her team, she was able to convince the D.A. that the jury had been tampered with, which led to the judge declaring a mistrial. Her client was no longer seen as a sociopath and his case was kicked to juvenille court. An honest win for the severity of this case.   

Her team, depending on availability, would be considered small compared to Wall Street's notorious law firms. Really, they were her friends from law school that assist her with her workload. Her and two other attorneys, one located on the outskirts of the town, as Millington's district attorney, and the other located in Los Angeles, each with their own reputation of being ruthlessly good at what they do. Griffon Cohen [sup](see male picture above)[/sup] and [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f7/f5/38/f7f53854997df6f3083d8b85837ec36f.jpg]Elizabeth Savage[/url]. They both have two paralegals, one legal secretary, one record clerk, and one book keeper in their designated locations. Griffon, as DA, also has a couple of assistants to represent him. 

His ADAs work around the clock and do behind-the-scenes casework for both him (for the state) and Annabel (for wherever her clients are located). Griffon appoints his other staff members to her as well, since those who want to pursue law in Millington aren't many and as much as Ana would love to be a superhero and close cases with super intelligence, she needs the help. Every attorney needs help. Their workplace, however, is with him, since Ana prefers her home office over anywhere else. She does have a room available for her with him if she ever wants to... 'get away'. One can say they have [i]history[/i], making their relationship fairly unique both professionally and personally. 

Ana had gotten back from California two days after Roderick and the youngest Reese child went missing and since then she's been out of sorts. A profession like her's took strength, especially mentally and emotionally. Yet, that wasn't why her A-game was downgraded to 'hot mess'. Ophelia Reese's death had already taken a toll on her, but as cold as this may have come across, she kept trudging onward, acting like she wasn't affected by one of her best friend's suicides. That happened only this past February. Something she could've prevented if she was around, but work, as always, came first. On top of that grief, she couldn't help but pity Ophelia's children. Those poor children learning to live with such loss have to now accept that their father and baby sister may have joined their mother. 

After letting a heavy sigh escape her lips, she placed her glass down onto the table and pressed the button on her landline that would play her voicemails. She had three missed calls. The first one was from none other than her old flame, before she married NO-NAME. Dear Griffon. Honestly, she didn't know what she'd do without him. He and Eliza were the main reason she had such a strong clientele, since they referred people to her all the time. Her melting chocolate eyes deeply stared into the red liquid listening to the man's modulated and serious voice: [color=A67B5B][b]"I'm not going to take up much of your time, but I do need you to listen to me. For once, don't be stubborn. Please know, I only say this because I care  — Ana, due to recent events, you should temporarily close your firm to focus on your health. You've recently decided to do seminars at MU. Add that, with your usual workload, the fact that you are a mother, and what you must be going through, I demand that you take care of YOU. I will not allow any of my staff to help with your next case if you deliberately disobey my orders. Send me your clientele list and a formal letter addressing your sabbatical. Eliza and I will make sure your clients are well taken care of. Do remember, I am here for you if you need to talk. Never hesitate in calling, give the Reese's my condolences, and some time today you will be receiving flowers to ease your worry. Take care and don't take my kindness for granted."[/b][/color] [i]Click.[/i]

With furrowed eyebrows, Ana went from looking at her tea to glaring at her phone. Who was he to tell her to not work?! Well, she did have plenty of money saved up, but still! Work kept her busy. Without work, she would be left to her own [i]thoughts[/i]. Her mind wasn't the safest place for her. Why would she want an open schedule to have more time to THINK? He acted like he knew her! Like he knew she wasn't doing alright! 

Before she could grab the phone to dial his number and start giving him a hissy fit, the next voicemail played. It was her sister, Lyla, five years younger than her, and a decently successful fashion journalist in NYC.

[color=ffdb6a][b]"Hey Ana-banana, so.... Griffon called me."[/b][/color] That bastard. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Y'know it's the summer and you and the little rascals could always come to the east coast. A lot's happening in Millington so the offer is on the table. I wish I could come, but you already know how sick mom is. If not for the whole summer, consider a week. Take a break!"[/b][/color] There was a pause from the chipper woman's voice, before she continued, letting out a hopeless laugh, [color=ffdb6a][b]"I already know how you would respond. You're so predictable. 'Phoebe and Charles are experiencing enough change right now, I can't possibly overwhelm them anymore than they already are!' 
Am I right, or amiright?"[/b][/color] 

Ana rolled her eyes at her sister's assumption, which was... true, but whatever. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Okay, okay. I'm done teasing. Still, you need to not work so much. Those kids already don't see their father often, if at all, because of the divorce terms. You don't want them to grow up feeling empty. Stop working and spend time with them. They need you."[/b][/color] Unfortunately so. Ana didn't think she was a very good mother. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Now, enough about [i]you[/i], here's a quick update—"[/b][/color] The voicemail cut her sister's voice and started playing the next one. 

[color=ffdb6a][b]"Ooops! I hung up. My bad. Like I was saying. Enough about you, guess what? Me and Lou broke up, again. This time I'm totally done with him. He's a fucking ass and I can't believe why I gave him another chance. It's so dumb, really. It's like why the hell do I let some pretentious turd define me as a woman. I should be like you and just not give men the time of day. Unless they're like Griff, who you totally don't give! He's still so in love with you."[/b][/color] False. Ana wasn't opposed to dating, she just hasn't found someone who understood her. Truly and deeply. She also wasn't opposed to casually browsing. As for Griff, he was an old flame and she preferred his friendship over the prospect of them as a romantic couple. He was kind of a whore. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Well, whatever. Ugh, Lou makes me so angry.  Should I call him and bitch him out? I probably should call him and bitch him out. Imma' do it."[/b][/color] Of course she will. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Say hi to my babies. Tell them Auntie loves them very much and that we will chat soon!"[/b][/color] By now, Ana had mentally checked out. Her sister was insufferable. [color=ffdb6a][b]"Keep me updated, okay? I'm not going to tell mom what's happening... I still haven't even told her about Ophelia. OH! And you should just marry Griffon. You're not getting any younger. Okay, love you! Byeeeeeeee."[/b][/color] [i]Click.[/i]  

As if on cue, Ana's doorbell rang. She was still in her pajamas... [color=FBC4B0][b]"That must be the flowers."[/b][/color]  

[i][color=FBC4B0]I think I'll give it to them...[/color][/i] Standing up, Ana gracefully glided to her window, peering through the curtain and looking at the house ahead. She seriously needed to get dress. Why wasn't she dressed, anyways? 
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